72 



THE BOOK OF CHOICE FERNS. 



4in. long, polished above, but densely scaly at the base, are narrow-spear- 

 shaped, and furnished with six to twelve or more pairs of leaflets. These are 

 always opposite, of a leathery texture, and beautiful glaucous -green in colour 

 on each side ; they are cleft down nearly to the base into three narrow, rigid 

 segments, with inrolled edges, thus forming a sort of claw. The involucre 

 (covering of the spore masses) is formed out of the edge of the frond, and 



Fig. 26. Pellsea ternifolia 

 Q nat. size). 



remains rolled over the spores till they attain their full maturity. For 

 Fig. 26 we are indebted to Messrs. W. and J. Birkenhead. — Hooker, Species 

 Filicum, ii., p. 142 ; Filiees Exoticce, t. 15. Nicholson, Dictionary of 

 Gardening, iii., p. 67. Eaton, Ferns of North America, ii., t. 54. Lowe, 

 Ferns British and Exotic, hi., t. 24b. 



P. (Allosorus) Wrightiana— All-os-o'-rus ; Wright-T-a'-na (Wright's). 

 Synonymous with P. mucronata. 



P. (Platyloma) Zippellii— Plat-yl-o'-ma ; Zip-pel'- li-i (Zippelius'), Baker. 



A very distinct, stove species, of large dimensions, native of New Guinea, 

 with fronds l£ft. long, 2^in. broad, and borne on short, tufted stalks of 



